The day at my desk. The (Fashion's) Night out.

Milly on 73rd and Madison at the end of Fashion's Night Out. 8:35 PM. Photo: DPC.

Friday, September 7, 2012. Yesterday warm and very humid. I spent the day at my desk.

Today is the birthday of Daisy Soros. If you don’t know who (whom) I’m talking about, she’s the woman who with her husband Paul, has brought New York the Summer Swing dances every summer in the Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center for the last 17 years. So we can thank her for her birthday. Happy Birthday Daisy.

Daisy and Joy.

And while we’re on the subject, it’s also the birthday of Joy Ingham who doesn’t supply any summer dances (or any other dances) anytime anywhere as far as we know.

Although she’s the one who first got me interested in City Harvest about twenty years ago. She’s been pushing that this long, and now as you may know she (and her comrades) has (have) been pushing City Harvest into the big time. They're delivering more food to more New Yorkers in need, then ever before. And there are more in need then ever before, many more. City Harvest; a little check will do wonders for your spirits as well as the tummies of some little ones somewhere out there.

You may have seen Joy’s picture here on these pages, including pictures of her when she was Joy Briggs. That was then and this is then too, if you catch my drift. But she’s a Virgo like Daisy (obviously) and they both share many characteristics that make them quite their own persons as well as very loveable. Oh, you can have little arguments with them too. They’ll let you on it if you should need to know. And they actually live just six blocks from each other overlooking Central Park. And they both go to Nantucket every year. Do they see much of each other? Probably not. Virgos you know, with Sons Rising and Daughters on the Moon; they like variety.

Also last night “Forbidden Broadway” opened officially at the 47th Street Theater on West 47th between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. I went on Wednesday night with some friends and with my friend Paxton Quigley, who is one of the producers of this edition of “Forbidden Broadway, Alive and Kicking.” I’d always heard of it but never got to see one before now.

It’s a review created and written by Gerard Alessandrini. It’s been reviewed all over the place and they’re all raves, or close to it. I can understand. I’ve never been to the theatre before where the audience starts laughing in the first thirty seconds and laughs and roars with laughter right up to the end of the show.

It’s a musical roast and in the past they’ve won 9 Drama Desk Awards, a Special Tony, an Obie, a Lucille Lortel and a Drama League Award. This edition takes on Porgy and Bess, Anything Goes, Follies, Spider-Man, Book of Mormon, Nice Work If You Can Get It (sorry, Matthew), Evita, Mandy Patinkin and Patty LuPone, Audra MacDonald, Bono, Julie Taymor, Mary Poppins, Newsies, and Death of a Salesman. Outrageous in outrageous costumes for outrageously quick changes. This cast of four is really a cast of thousands! Natalie Charle Ellis, Jenny Lee Stern, Scott Richard Foster, Marcus Stevens. A riot. Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland as played by Jenny Lee Stern; ha! It’ll never be the same for you again. Watching it I had the feeling that Garland herself would be falling off her chair with laughter. Everybody else was. Check it out: www.forbiddenbroadway.com.

I’m not a frequent theatre-goer so I was a little worried about not knowing what show they were referring to. Forget it; doesn’t matter: they’re so funny you don’t even care. Although it was easy in some cases. I felt as if I were getting the “inside” review of the whole experience I never saw.

The backstory here is that Pax and I are old friend from Los Angeles. She moved to New York for the first time only five years ago. Her only regret she says, is that she didn’t do it sooner. She loves it. She’s also never walked more in her life, and gone to the opera and the ballet more (and walked there and walked home). Years ago when she was a kid, she briefly pursued an acting career, which is how she ended up in L.A., so this venture is in a very real way a revival of the passion to be involved in theatre. And so it was.

Last night in New York, if you didn’t know (and if so, you must have been under a rock if you live in Manhattan), was the annual Fashion's Night Out. FNO. I got started late so I missed the pouring-out-into-the-street crowds. Nevertheless. I’m not a shopper anyway so going into a store (unless I need something desperately) isn’t my habit. However, it was still an interesting event to witness. Madison Avenue (I started my little photo-stroll at 64th Street) was really buzzing, busier than in the day time. And usually at the eight o’clock hour, except for the restaurants with their tables open onto the avenue.

They were passing out these goodie bracelets (I think they were bracelets) in front of Fred Leighton.

Cell phone and champagne at Dennis Basso. Who could ask for anything more?

Alice and Olivia. They just can't stay away.

And here's why. Or one of the reasons why.

And another reason.

Canine fashion victim in more ways than one.

Roger Vivier handbags.

Armani sorbet.

Roger Vivier again.

Hassan's full-up at Bar Italia.

A customer's Bentley in front.

Hassan suggesting Anna Safir come in for a cocktail. Mother Eleanora Kennedy saying: what do you think?

Crossing the velvet rope outside Oscar de la Renta.

The gang inside Oscar de la Renta.

Watching from outside Oscar de la Renta.

Moving on up the avenue.

Michael Kors SRO.

Creed for you and for kings.

She's got legs at Giuseppe Zanotti.

Hanging at Dolce and Gabbana.

Ahh, finally home (at Pratesi). Or one to dream on.

These shoes were made for walking at Prada ...

... with these handbags.

They said it, not me.

It's getting late (or losing it) at Milly's.

Seen it all, thank you.

Lisa Perry's palette.

And over at Bottega Veneta on Fifth Avenue, they introduced a group of eco-friendly handbags and unveiled a special project photographed by An Le. A percentage of sales from the evening will be donated to the International Center of Photography Programs for Youth.

Almost 9 o'clock; too late to stop by Eli's to pick up something for din, I decided to try upscale takeout at EAT. Chicken Salad, Steamed Broccoli and Garlic, Potato Salad (I had the tomats at home). Fashion's Lights Out.